VMI Baseball secured a series sweep against Western Illinois on Sunday at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium in Lexington, Virginia. The Keydets, now holding a 14-2 record, overcame a 7-0 deficit in the sixth inning to win 9-8. This victory marks their fifth consecutive win and their third home series sweep this season.
The team scored all nine of its runs in the final three innings. Cole Cook played a significant role with four RBIs, including both a double and a triple. Cole Raile contributed his third home run of the season, while Owen Prince went two-for-three, scoring three runs and driving in two more. Seth Buchanan added two hits and two runs. Buddy Baker closed out the game by pitching the last 1.1 innings and allowing only one hit.
Western Illinois took an early lead by scoring twice in the second inning, three times in the fifth, and twice more in the sixth to go up 7-0. VMI’s first hit came in the sixth inning with an RBI double from Grayson Fitzwater that brought Prince home.
In the seventh inning, Prince singled to drive in a run before Cook’s double down the left field line cleared the bases and narrowed Western Illinois’ lead to two runs. The Leathernecks extended their advantage with a solo home run in the eighth inning.
VMI’s rally continued in the bottom of the eighth as Raile hit an opposite-field solo homer. JW Kohlmeyer added another run with a sacrifice fly that scored Ayden Schnarrs, reducing the deficit to one run with two outs. Prince tied the game by beating out an infield single and later scored what proved to be the winning run after stealing second base and coming home on Cook’s triple.
The Keydets will play Norfolk State next Wednesday in Norfolk, Virginia, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.
For additional details about VMI Baseball or upcoming games, information is available at VMIKeydets.com or through VMI Athletics’ social media channels.
